Creative advertising is powerful, to say the least. If you ask any professional in the field what is the key to successful advertising, their answer will likely resonate to the famous quote by Stephan Voge (Ogilvy & Mather Germany’s chief creative office).

“Nothing is more efficient than creative advertising. Creative advertising is more memorable, longer lasting, works with less media spending, and builds a fan community…faster.”

It’s no wonder creative ads are so effective. They inspire us, encourage us to take action, make us stop and think twice.

The following ads touch upon sensitive subjects and raise awareness about current social issues. The lessons to be learnt from these works of art apply to each and every one of us so don’t just skim through. Take your time to appreciate the work, and devour the messages.

1. Before it’s too late

2. Save paper. Save the planet.

3. Air pollution kills 60,000 people a year

4. Ignore us, ignore human rights

5. Women need to be seen as equal

6. It’s not happening here, but it is happening now

7. What goes around, comes around

8. Bullets leave bigger holes than you think

9. Workers are not tools

10. Neglected children are made to feel invisible

11. Your skin color shouldn’t dictate your future

12. See how easy feeding the hungry can be?

13. For the homeless, everyday is a struggle

14. If you don’t pick it up, they will

15. Don’t buy exotic animal souvenirs

16. Every 60 seconds a species dies out

17. Stop the (animal) abuse

18. Plastic bags kill

19. What goes around, comes around. Keep the sea clean.

20. Certain things hang on forever

21. Censorship tells the wrong story

22. The back seat’s no safer, belt up

23. One click could change your life. Belt up.

24. 1988 –

25. Now you see it, now you don’t

26. I’ll be there in a while, wheelchair

27. For some, it’s Mt.Everest

28. If you smoke, statistically your story will end 15% before it should